Chiral Separation, X-ray Structure and Biological Evaluation of a Potent and Reversible Dual Binding Site AChE Inhibitor

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors (AChEIs) still remain the leading therapeutic options for the symptomatic treatment of cognitive deficits associated with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The search for new AChEIs benefits from well-established knowledge of the molecular interactions of selective AChEIs, such as donepezil and related dual binding site inhibitors. Starting from a previously disclosed coumarin-based inhibitor (±)-cis-1, active as racemate in the nanomolar range toward AChE, we proceeded on a double track by (i) achieving chiral resolution of the enantiomers of 1 by HPLC and (ii) preparing two close achiral analogues of 1, i.e., compounds 4 and 6. An eudismic ratio as high as 20 was observed for the (−) enantiomer of cis-1. The X-ray crystal structure of the complex between the (−)-cis-1 eutomer (coded as MC1420) and T. californica AChE was determined at 2.8 A, and docking calculation results suggested that the eutomer in (1R,3S) absolute configuration should be energetically more...